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Enter: Bento boxes. These compartmentalized lunch boxes have gained popularity all over the country in recent years for encouraging more freshness, food diversity, and imagination into on-the-go meals. They've become especially popular when it comes to efficiently preparing kids' school lunches. After eating out of your bento, simply wash and dry it until next time. Some bento, especially insulated models, have removable inside trays that can be washed, and the exterior is only cleaned as needed. Traditional materials, like bamboo or wood, require more care and must be hand-washed. Lacquerware can even peel and chip in the wrong environment—it’s little wonder that people opt for materials like metal and plastic when given the chance for this everyday product. Each layer's lid has a gasket around the edges, ensuring that the tiers are entirely leakproof. The lids also feature a vent to allow hot air to release during reheating in the microwave. We found that the tight-fitting lids were a little difficult to open, so this set would be best for teens and adults with better grip strength.
So many people choose to prepare their lunch at home for a variety of reasons. Almost 46% of employees, who do not have a workplace restaurant, bring their meals to work at least once a week and 27% every day (Harris Interactive Study 2012). Smiggle is very popular in Y2 here (they're the year group I work with). Also see a lot of bento boxes with little compartments. They all seem to love these!” (Rated by Mumsnet user UndeadSlut)Whether you’re a tapas-style luncher, a classic sarnie lover or the lord of leftovers, there really is a lunchbox design that’ll work for you. Be it a plastic, glass or bamboo lunchbox, we’ve tested and reviewed them all and posted our findings below. Indeed, we like to think we’ve dispelled those memories of the stinky plastic boxes of old, highlighting brilliant new designs that keep food fresh and help you eat in comfort, whether you’re in the canteen or at the park. Your Umami Bento Lunch box has an innovative and simple system to keep the food airtight and water tight. We also wanted to share some tips on how to use your bento box so you can keep it for a long time.
The removable compartment tray is microwave- and dishwasher-safe, while the outer shell should be hand washed to preserve the seal. It's available in green, purple, or blue, and there are also options with bright colors and multiple fun prints to suit any taste. As most parents of primary-aged kids will know, Smiggle is currently the brand to beat when it comes to school essentials - and this trendy, graphic print bento lunchbox is no exception. The graphic print is striking and appealing to primary-aged children and the box slips easily into most school bags. Material: A chunky plastic bento box able to withstand bumps and scrapes may be a good investment to see children through school. But if you’re saying no to plastic, then you may wish to invest in a more eco-friendly alternative, such as stainless steel or bamboo. Another change in bento boxes in the 20th century was the introduction of insulation in the design. Japanese insulated bento boxes tend to come in separate containers and resemble a Western-style lunchbox, with a thermos cup that fits into an insulated or non-insulated soft carrying case. The more common insulated option tends to be bento-inspired lunchboxes made by Western companies, often with a removable tray inside an insulated case. You can also find non-insulated bento boxes that come with an insulated carrying case.She [my daughter] won’t forget her cool Smiggle lunchbox. Blimey though, they certainly know how to charge!” (Recommended by Mumsnet user UnitedRoad) Our verdict Another vote for Yumbox here. Not cheap, but last for years.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user boccas) Our verdict Bernadette Machard de Gramont, a Los Angeles-based writer who specializes in global food and wine content, personally tested eight of the items on this roundup. Her work has also appeared in The Kitchn, Made Local Magazine, Food52, and Far and Wide. The term "bento" actually derives from the Chinese Southern Song dynasty slang word Biandang, which translates to "convenience." Cleaning Test: We hand-washed each bento box after use, noting if it was easy to clean and if any food stains or odors remained.
Bernadette Machard de Gramont is a Los Angeles-based writer who specializes in global food and wine content. After a two-year stint at Williams-Sonoma Headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and she interviews field experts for their insight. She personally tested eight of the items on this roundup. The first bento boxes were made from bamboo, then later lacquered boxes and wood, such as cedar. Beginning in the 20th century, other materials began to be used, starting with aluminum in the 1920s. Today, you can still find bento boxes made from traditional materials as well as stainless steel, plastic, and glass. Single-use bento, common in Japan at convenience stores and sometimes found abroad as well, are typically made of single-use plastic or even styrofoam. Insulation The Bentohaven Bento Lunch Box is an all-around good choice in terms of design, functionality, and price. It received high marks in testing for its roomy compartments and leakproof performance. Have kids? The Bentgo Kids' Lunch Box is lightweight, easy to use, and comes in 30 different patterns. How We Tested Monbento has been making these incredibly attractive, French-designed, luxe bento boxes since 2009. Each classic bento box is streamlined with a minimal look and feel but exudes softness with delicately rounded edges, a comforting color palette, and a BPA-free plastic that's soft to the touch. Written by Monica Petrucci, kitchen editor and longtime home cook who has years of product testing experience.Is it a box? Is it a bag? Is it a design statement? This roomy beauty from Canadian company Fluf is all three, and with superb eco credentials to boot. READ NEXT: The best reusable water bottles and sport bottles The best lunchboxes to buy in 2022 1. Yumbox Panino: Best leak-proof lunchbox Food flask: If you’re a soup fiend, go for a flask instead of a lunchbox. Wide flasks such as the Thermos King Food are double-wall insulated and water-tight – more so than lunchboxes that describe themselves as leak-proof. A food flask is wide enough for rice, noodles and stews as well as soup. For more, read our review of the best flasks. Which material is best for lunchboxes? The box is durable and has a big, chunky plastic handle for toddlers to carry with ease, so it’s perfect for on-the-go munching, whether they’re off to nursery or the park.
Bento is a single-portion meal designed to be taken to go. Of Japanese origin, today bento is popular all over Asia and, increasingly, the world. The bento box is designed to carry this meal, and is a popular storage option for lunches on the go. Microwave Test: We heated microwave-safe boxes in the microwave for 1 minute at the 700-watt setting. No, bento boxes typically are not made to keep food warm. Unlike a thermos, most bento boxes are not fully insulated. They can, however, be stored in an insulated carrying case. Early bento lids were completely separate from the base of the box and often tied up in furoshiki, a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth, to help keep it secure. Today, tops of boxes are often more secure, with lids and seals that resemble other food containers. Tops can be held in place with clasps, airtight lids, or gaskets. Lids are also often hinged, making it easy to keep all parts of the box together. They vary in how leak- and splash-proof they are, so think about how much you’ll need to transport your bento box, and even how far ahead you'll want to prep your food; an airtight seal will help keep food fresher longer and will prevent food from spilling in your bag. Linnea Covington, a Denver-based food writer who loves cooking and planning meals for her family, tested the Bentgo Kids Lunch Box with her 5-year-old son, who took it to school every day for a week.As you’d expect from a Sistema product, this box is robust, doesn’t leak and is 100 percent dishwasher-safe so is easy to clean too. Granted, it's not the prettiest bento box around, but if you’re looking for something reliable for the whole family and at a great price, the Sistema To Go Bento Box really can't be beaten. Probably the best lunchbox in the world was dreamt up in 2011 by South London mum Sarah Kerr, who couldn’t find a box that didn’t leak baby food all over her hands and bags. So she made one herself. Do not use your bento box to cook food in a microwave oven, it is only designed to reheat already cooked foods. We love this bold, plain ‘Lunch’ edition, but there are several others to choose from, including the fabulous Jaws-style ‘Shark’ and fruit-patterned ‘Eat the Rainbow’; perfect for reminding you to eat your five-a-day. LunchBots Large Cinco Stainless Steel Lunch Container: Even though it’s made of stainless steel, this bento box retained some odor from the tomato sauce. We also found the fixed compartments a bit restrictive and noticed that the partitions, while attached, had gaps in the corners, so if you have something runny in one compartment, it could leak into the others.
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